Tree-protector.



PATENTED DEG.12,1905. s. s. STALBY & J. T. WARD.

TREE PROTECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED 53mm, 1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL S. STALEY AND JOSEPH T. WARD, OF PHILADELPHIA,

- PENNSYLVANIA.

TREE-PROTECTOR.

I Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, 1905.

Application filed September 12, 1905. Serial No. 278,139.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, SAMUEL S. STALEY and JOSEPH T. WARD, citizens of the United States, residents of Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Tree-Protector, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in tree-protectors.

Our object is to provide means for preventing caterpillars or similar insects from climbing the trunk of the tree.

Our invention comprises a metallic band with a fringe of needles. The band is secured around the trunk of the tree, preferably with cotton'or similar substance between the band and tree, to fill up the crevices in the bark.

The essential feature of our invention consists in providing, preferably, the upper edge of said metallic band with a fringe of sharp points or needles. We also consider it a preferable construction to provide the band with an outward flare at its upper extension for the purpose hereinafter described.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a cross-section of a tree provided with our improved protector. Fig. 2 is an elevation of same. Fig. 3 is a vertical section.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The band 1 is secured to the tree 2 in any suitable way, and the cotton 3 or other yielding material is interposed between the metallic band and the tree to fill u the un- The meta lic band 1 is provided at its upper extension with an outward flare 4 and a marginal fringe of needles' or needle-like points 5. These needles 5 are preferably made to extend in different directions, as indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. It hasbeen found by experimentation that when the insect comes in contact with these needle-like points it recoils, presumably as though from a hostile insect, and immediately falls to the ground. The

flaring portion 4 of the band is thought to weaken the hold of the insect thereto, so that the contact of the needle-points with the insect is more certain to cause it to lose its hold from the band and fall.

The metallic band may be provided with the fringe of needles either by slitting the edge of said band into a very fine fringe to form said needles or else by assembling previously-formed needles, securing the same, as a fringe, to the band in any suitable way.

After the needles are formed they may be bent to point in different directions, as above stated and shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. It is especially important that a number of the needles should have a downwardly-extending inclination in order to present their points to the upwardly-approaching insect.

It is preferable to form this band of a bright metal rather than one which will rustreadily, since rusting would tend soon to impair the efliciency of the needle-points. Rust ing would also form a rougher surface for the insects to cling to.

What we claim is 1. A tree-protector comprising a band for surrounding the tree, flaring toward its upperextension, and provided with a fringe of needles around its upper margin.

2. A tree-protector comprising a band for surrounding the tree having a smooth 1nclined under surface toward its upper margin, and provided with a fringe of needles around said upper margin.

' 3. A tree-protector comprising a band for surrounding the tree having a smooth inclined under surface toward its upper margin and provided with a fringe of downwardly-projecting needles around said upper. margin.

SAJSTUEL S. STALEY. JOSEPH -T. WARD. Witnesses:

A. O. WINCHESTER, -MAE HoFMANN. 

